Our visas expired in days so we went to the border between Thailand and Cambodia for “visa run”. It’s pretty common to do so for most tourists or some expats, but it’s our very first “run”. Nonetheless, I hope that it’s the first and the last.

We drove about 3 hours to reach the border and my kids were bored in the journey. Without their car seats, we had 2 monkeys in the car and to keep them settle down, we fed them junks.

Once we reached the border, we rushed over to the immigration office to “step out” of Thailand. It’s only a short distance to reach The Kingdom of Cambodia, but the different is so much. The children rushed to us with umbrellas and asking for money. The men approached us asking if we are Japanese, Koreans, Chinese or anything nations just want to “help us for money”. My kids basically freaked out seeing the children walking around without shoes and some without pants. Even the adults walked around bare footed on the muddy ground, if those who dressed well were workers at casinos, tourists or Thais who gambled at Casinos. The living condition looks pretty bad.

Some Cambodian children “working” by pushing a cart…bare footed!

Justin was reluctant to go to school since we moved here, maybe he’s afraid of the new environment and he can’t speak Thai. But after seeing how to children of Cambodia wandering on the streets, he changed his mind. He is eager to go to school now! Isabelle kept telling others that “the people no wear shoes wan. Mei mei wear shoes. The people no wear pants wan. Mei mei got pants.” It’s a reality lesson to them, and a way of showing them that there are a lot of less fortunate children in this world.

In Cambodia, for a while only la…BIL advised us to look “ugly”

The immigration officer helped us to get the stamping done, but of course, we paid them la. But at least we didn’t have to queue for hours like the angmohs. There were so many angmoh going for visa run too!

All for visa

After everything was done, we went back to Thailand border. There is a open market selling stuffs like clothes and A-grade replica bags. The place is quite big, so we rented a buggy to shop around. For the very first time, I bought one. LOL! I don’t buy replicas but since we were there, just get one for fun la.

At the buggy

Isabelle helped hubby to drive

All replica bags…

Frankly, I really don’t wish to make this trip again. My kids also got some shock seeing the living condition at the border of Cambodia. I might want to get another term life insurance if I have to go there again!